Article forming apparatus



1954 c. w. HENDERSON ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS ll Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 9, 1951 A TT ORNEY Feb. 23, 1954 C. W. HEN DERSON ARTICLE FORMINGAPPARATUS l1 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 A 7'- TORNEV Feb. 23,1954 c. w. HENDERSON 2,669,811

ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORC .WHE NOE RSON By MM 2: 7" TORNEY Feb. 23, 1954 c. w. HENDERSON ARTICLEFORMING APPARATUS 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 3 km R II m9 m9m4 8 N9 32 \Q I Q% 9% \Q\ b9 n 3 I II] I l Wi h RI Q I III II 3 W I I I][I [I \,\m \9 09 g 5 m9 H 3 mm m@ vm mm bk 98 HH k 1 HM g .l w .JEIA ommm mm mu m I Q a g, F. mm m2 wk .3 m5 QQ m w ONT L /v VEN TORCWHENDERSON ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1954 c. w. HENDERSON ARTICLE FORMINGAPPARATUS l1 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 N R w m R N m w N N E C YB. R.\\.

L v @M I /7 1 am R H mm on l--- i|ii||ll1l|w 3 Wm I HHMI .l I I l I 1 INW mo. a. II HlHlW ma Q0. w w 8 m mm 8 .R R E K 8. 3 k u\| AT TORNEVFeb. 23, 1954 c. w. HENDERSON 2,669,811

ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 //v l/ENTom C. m HENDERSON A 7' TORNEV Feb. 23, 1954 c. w. HENDERSON ARTICLEFORMING APPARATUS 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 bad INVENTORC.WHENDER$0N By MM A TTOl-PNEY Feb. 23, 1954 v c. w. HENDERSON 2,669,811

ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 IN VENTOR QWHENDERSON AT'TOR/VEV Feb. 23, 1954 c. w. HENDERSON ARTICLE FORMINGAPPARATUS 11 sheets-sheet 9 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 //v l/EN 2 1 -e C. W. HENOE/1250A? ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1954 c. w. HENDERSON 2,669,811

ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG-l6I77 //v VENTOR C .W.HE NDERSON A 7' TORNE V Feb. 23, 1954 Filed Feb. 9,1951 C. W. HENDERSON ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS ll Sheets-Sheet 11 By MM4 'r TORNEV Patented Feb. .23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLEFORMING APPARATUS Application February 9, 1951, Serial No. 210,201

Claims.

This invention relates to article cutting apparatus and moreparticularly to automatic resistor helixing apparatus.

Carbon resistors of a particular type for use in the telephone industryare formed of cylindrical ceramic members of given lengths and diameterssubsequently provided with coatings of carbon resistance material afterwhich the ends of each article or resistor are coated with a conductivematerial, such as silver, providing terminals therefor. This is thecondition of the article at the time it reaches the present apparatus.The final forming of the article includes the cutting of a helicalgroove through the carbon material to produce a resistor having a mainbody of ceramic material with terminals of conductive material at theends thereof connected by a spiral formation of carbon resistancematerial.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which iscompletely automatic in operation yet simple in structure and highlyeificient in successively forming articles such as carbon resistors bycutting grooves of predetermined contours therein.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises an articleforming apparatus including a chuck to support the article movable froma loading position to an operating position, the chuck being driven atthe operating position relative to a rotatable cutter while a mechanismcauses relative movement of the cutter and chuck whereby a helicalgroove will be cut in the article.

In the present embodiment of th invention, although separate drivingmeans is provided for the cutter and for the chuck when in the operatingposition, the synchronized actions of the various units of the apparatusare under the control of their respective cam on a single cam shaft. Forexample, the articles are removed singly from a supply and located wherethe three chucks of the turret are successively positioned while openand then closed to grip the articles before moving them to the operatingposition. While the chucks are in the operating position, they areautomatically connected to a variable drive to cause rotation of thechucks with their articles at predetermined speeds whereby variednumbers of convolutions may be cut in the carbon coatings of thearticles. During the interval of time each chuck is in the operatingposition, it is caused to move under a variable force into the cuttingposition to move the article against the rotatable cutter adjacent thestart of the traversing motion of the cutter. At or prior to the end ofthe travcrsing motion of th cutter, the chuck is moved 2 out of thecutting position, determining the end of the helical groove in thearticle. The article or resistor is now completed and is ejected at thenext station of the turret.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View illustrating the feedingmechanism;

Fig, 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: illustrates one of the articles for resistors prior to beingformed in th apparatus;

Fig. 5 illustrates the completed article as a result of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view of the chuck supporting the turretand associated mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line '|-'l of Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line li8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along th line 9--9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line l0-l 0 ofFig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line Hll of Fig. 6;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line lZl 2 ofFig. 6;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line l3-l 3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detailed view taken along the line i k- 14 ofFig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line l5l5 of Fig. 1,illustrating the chuck driving mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line l|--l l ofFig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a detailed View of the unit for driving and traversing thegrinding wheel; and

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line l9l 9 of Fig. 18.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to thecutting wheel 20 and the unit 2i which may be termed the cutting unitshown more in detail in Figs. 1, l8 and 19. This unit includes a motor22 supported by a bracket 23 which is fixedly mounted at 24'. in anydesired adalso supports a housing 26 in which a shaft 2! is journalled.The shaft 2'! is driven through a belt and pulley attachment 28 to theshaft of the motor 22 and is provided with suitable means to support thecutting wheel 20. The cutting Wheel is a commercially known diamondcutter supported at each side by metal washers 3| leaving exposed aportion of the cutter of suitable size to cut a groove in the article.

The carriage which supports the unit 2! is mounted upon a table 33 asshown in Fig. 19: and positioned to be moved in a guided path in onedirection by a spring 34 and in the opposite direction by a cam 35. Thespring 34 is housed in an aperture 36 of the carriage 25 and isbacked bya pin 38 carried by a bracket, 39: mounted at 40 on the table 33. A camroller 42 supported by a bracket 43 on the adjacent end of the carriage25 is positioned to ride upon the cam Q13 and;

be under the control thereof. The cam 35 is mounted on the adjacent endof a cam shaft. 45 which is mounted in suitable bearings. as.illustrated in Fig. l and extends to the right in this figure where itis operatively connected to a driving means. The driving means for thecam includes a commercially known power unit 47 having an output shaft43 upon. which a gear 49 is mounted to drive a gear 50 which is fixedlymounted on the adjacent end of the cam shaft 45.

A multiplicity of the articles shown in Fig. 4 are fed. successivelythrough a feeding tube 5.! shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The article 52 (Fig.4) is composed of a cylindrical ceramic member of a given length havinga coating 53 of a suitable carbon resistance material and contactportions 54 of conductive material formed or otherwise located at theends of each. article-over the carbon coating. Attention is now directedto Fig. 3 which illustrates the articles 52 being fed successively tothe feeding unit 55 where they are limited in their movement by anadjustable stop 56. The exit end of the tube 5! is supported by astationary element 5? supported by a bracket 58. A notch 59 in thestationary element 5"! is disposed in alignment with the exit end of thetube 5| to control the path of travel of each article passing from thetube.

An oscillating feeding member 60 of the contour shown in Figs. 2 and 3is supported by a tion against an adjustable stop 63 shownin solid linesin Fig. 2. When the member 60 is in the solid line position, its notch62 is positioned to receive the next article 52. However, the member 68may-be movedto the broken line position shown in Fig. 2 against a fixedstop 64 to locate the article carriedthereby in a position to bereceived by one of the supporting chucks as hereinafter described; Themechanism for oscillating the feeding member 60 between the receivingposition and the feeding position consists ofa hollow member 6i:pivotally mounted on the lower end of the element 60, through which arod 66 passes. Springs 61 disposed upon each side of the hollow member'and backed. up by collars 68 fixedly'mounted on the rod 66 serve asflexible or cushioned: connections between the feeding member filiandtherod 66.

earn roller TH normally urged into engagement The rod 66 is connectedtoalower end of a cam lever 69. which is pivotally supported at 10,carrying. a.

with the cam 12 by a spring 13. The cam 12 is fixedly mounted on the camshaft 45 and is driven thereby.

The mechanism for receiving the articles successively from the feedingunit 55 includes a turret-like structure supporting three chucksindicated generally at 15 and disposed at equally spaced positions: sothat, while one. chuck is in the operating position, another chuck willbe in the ejecting position and the third chuck will be inthe receivingposition. Attention is now directed to, Fig. l, and Figs. 6 to 11inclusive, particular attention at the moment being given to Fig. 7which illustrates the detailed structure of each chuckrlli. Each chuckincludes a shaft 16: journalled in bearings 11 which are supported in atubular portion of an arm 18, the arm having its inner end supported atbetween triangular shaped members 81 as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 11.The center line or axis of the support 89 is coincident with the axis ofa shaft 83 which is journalled in a suitable bearing, 84 mounted on oneof the cylindrical elements 85. which. are fixed to the triangularmembers 81. A, gear 86 is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 8:3while a gear 8'! is mounted on the inner end of this shaft interengaginga gear 88 which is mounted on the adjacent end of the shaft 16-. Aroller 89, is mounted on the shaft 16 between, the gear 83 and the arm18. The shaft 16 atth right ofthe arm 18- in Fig. 7 has areduced poretion 90 and serves as an important. part, of the chuck 35. A collar 92is. disposed concentric Withthe shaft 76 and is flanged to receivethe-adjacent end of a spring 93. The outer member 94 of thechuck isnotched at 95 to receive the outer end of a pin 96 which is carried bythe shaft, and limits movement of the outer chuck portion and provides aconnection between this portionand the shaft. Resilient jaws 98 havetapered inner surfaces 99 to ride over the adjacent end of the shaftportion 90. when theouter chuck portion is moved to the left to causethe resilient jaws of the chuck to open to receive one of thearticles.52. orto eject a finished article therefrom.

Although Fig. 7 illustrates only oneof the chuck units anditsimmediately associated drive ingmeans, it will be apparent by viewingthe other figures in this group that the three chuck unitsv equallyspaced from each other are identical in structure. The mechanism foroperating the chucks into open position is shownyin Figs. 6; 10 and 12.Each chuck l5;-has acam lever I09 pivotally-mounted at NH on a: bracketL02 which is fixed tothe adjacent triangular. mem-- her 8!. The leverI00 has abifurcated portion I94 to straddle the outermost portion of itschuck and; engage the shoulder thereof; to=move it against the, force ofthe spring- 93 to move the chuck. into its open position as illustratedat thelower'portion of Fig, 6 and in Fig. 10. A- cam. rollerl05mountedon the cam lever 108 is positioned to-ride, on a cam I09 shown in Figs.1,6; and 12; The; cam- I06 is of an oscillating type. supported bya-member Hil for, rocking movement'. on a shaft asillustratedin Fig. 12.The lower end. of the. member I01 ispivotally con.- nected' at I09 toone'end of-a rod H0. theother endof the'rod being connectedto a camlever H'l? pivotally supported at [12 and carrying a. cam roller H4which rides on:a,cam H5 under the force of aspirng H6. The cam H5ismounted on the cam shaft 45 and, is driven thereby.

As illustrated in Figs. 6. and 11, the, arms. 18 of. each. of the chuckunits. is urgedv counterclockwise about its pivot 80 by springs I I8,the forces of which may be varied through the adjustment of thehandwheels II9 on the threaded elements I upon each side of theirsupporting brackets IZI which are carried by the adjacent cylindricalmember 85. The function of each spring H8 is to move its chuck unit intothe cutting position to cause the article held thereby to move againstthe cutting wheel 20. However, the chuck units are held inwardly orrather against this additional outer movement by the unit I shown inFigs. 6 and 11. The unit I25 includes a member I26 with a circular innersurface having a notch I21 therein at what may be termed the operatingposition. The rollers 89 of each chuck unit are positioned to enter thenotch I21 when disposed adjacent the operating position so that at agiven time the roller 89 may enter the notch as illustrated in Fig. 11to allow its chuck to move outwardly a sufficient distance for itsarticle to be out. An annular member I30 disposed in an annular grooveI3I of the main member I25 and held against dis placement by a retainingring I32 has a similar notch I33 positioned to register with the notchI21 during a given interval of time. The annular member I38 and itsnotch I 33 are under the control of a cam I35 which is mounted on thecam shaft 45 and includes adjustable face plates I36 and I 31controlling the time interval the notches I33 and I21 are aligned witheach other. A cam lever I38 pivoted at I39 carries a cam roller I40riding on the periphery of the cam I35 while the lower end of the leveris connected at I II to an arm I 52 pivoted at I43 to the annular memberI55 and urged by a spring I44 in a counterclockwise direction. Tocomplete the structure shown in Fig. 11, resilient elements I45 serve asrests for each chuck unit as they are forced inwardly by the annularmembers I26 and I30.

The chuck supporting mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive,including mainly the triangular members SI and cylindrical members 85,constitutes the aforementioned turret I which is mounted concentric witha shaft I and fixedly mounted thereon. The shaft I5!) is journalled insuitable bearings and sup-ports the rocking cam I05, Figs. 1 and 6, formovement thereon. The mechanism for imparting intermittent movement tothe chuck supporting turret, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 13 and 14,includes a Geneva type wheel I5I mounted on the adjacent end of theshaft I50 actuated by its driving element I52 which is mounted on ashaft I53. The shaft I53 is journalled in suitable bearings and has agear I54 mounted thereon and inter-engaging a gear E55 which is mountedon the cam shaft 55. In this manner, for each revolution of the camshaft 45 the Geneva mechanism is operated one position, thus rotatingthe shaft I50 together with the chuck supporting turret one third of arevolution or 120 degrees to successively advance the chucks to thefeeding, operating and ejecting positions.

A latching and locating mechanism associated with the driving mechanismis illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. This mechanism includes three equallyspaced notches I59 in the periphery of a disk-like element I56 mountedon the shaft I50 with the Geneva element I5I, the notches having taperedsurfaces I51 to be engaged by a roller I58 to latch the associatedmechanism, particularly the shaft, with the chuck supportingturret-against rocking motion during the intervals.

of rest and to accurately position the turret to" assure accuratepositioning of the chucks thereof with respect to the feeding unit andthe cutting wheel. The roller I58 is supported by an arm I60 which ispivotally mounted at IOI and recessed at I62 to receive the adjacent endI63 of a cam lever I64. A spring or resilient element I65 fixedlymounted at I55 on the arm I60 functions normally to cause the arm I andcam lever I64 to act as a solid unit, permitting relative movement ofthe arm and lever, however, should anything tend to interfere with theusual operation thereof. A cam roller I68 mounted at the outer end ofthe lever IE4 is positioned to be engaged by a cam its which is mountedon the cam shaft 45 and provided with adjustable plates IIil to vary theeffective length of the high portion thereof.

A mechanism is provided to drive the chuck units 15 when in theoperating position adjacent the cutting wheel 29. This mechanism isshown in Figs. 1, l5, l6, and 17, and originates with a motor I15. Themotor I15 has an output shaft I16 which drives a large gear I11 and asmaller gear I18. The gear I11 drives a gear I 80 while the smaller gearI18 drives a gear I8I. It will be apparent that while the motor shaftI15 is driven at a constant known speed, driving the gears I11 and I18at like speeds, the gears I00 and IBI which are identical will be drivenat different speeds due to the difference in the sizes of the gears I 11and I13. These two driving speeds are provided in the apparatus andeither one may be employed depending upon the number of spiralconvolutions to be cut in the carbon coating of each article.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the driving mechanismillustrated in Figs. 15 and 16 employs the drive extending through gearsI18 and ISI. A pair of gears I82 and I03 connected to each other bysuitable means I84 and mounted on a shaft I05 are disposed in differentplanes for engagement with their respective gears I 89 or ISI. The shaftI85 is hollow as shown in Fig. 17, and is supported by an arm I81movable about a sleeve I83 the axis of Which is coincident with that ofa gear I80. A spring pressed plunger I55 extending through the hollowshaft I 85 is receivable in either one of two apertures I9I or I02 tolatch this mechanism in either one of the two positions wherein thedrive is received from either gear It! or I50 respectively. An element Ithreadedly' connected to the upper end of the arm I31 is positioned toride in an arcuate aperture IE5 in the bracket I95 and to otherwisemaintain the arm in either selected position.

The gear I89 mounted on its shaft I93 is positioned to be engaged by apinion 250 whichis mounted on a shaft 20f journalled in a suitableratus, let it be assumed that the various power units are in operationand that the articles 52 are being fed successively to the feeding unitshown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Due to the fact that the indexing mechanismfor the chuck supporting tur- I ret and the feeding mechanism for thearticles are under the control of the cam shaft $5 and its aceaeirassociated mechanism, the. articles: 52: received singly tromthe tube.El (Fig; 3:') are moved tothe receiving: position shown in broken lines(Fig. 2)" where" the: adjacent chuck unit T5 will be open, as shown Fig.lOZand at the lower-portions' of Eigs', 1 and 6-,, to receive the nextarticle. "The chuck. at this. position. is opened through the-operation.of the: cam H 5 (Figs. I and 1'2), rocking theelement N16. to move themechanism show-n detail inFig. 10 to force the yoke. l0'4 againsttheforce-oi thev spring 93. moving the resilientgripping portions. ofthe'chuck against the pin-likeportion. at of theshaft 16. to open the jawsofthe chuck. prior to the: positioning of the article the feedingposition. The article ismoved into the feeding position to be receivedby the chuck through the actuation of the cam 12 (Fig. 2-) rocking thefeeding element 60 to thebroken line position against th fixed stop 64.The chuck at the-receiving or loading position is allowed: to move intoits closed position prior to the. indexing OfI1th6?tll1Iet'., As' thechuck at the loading-poshtion: is; closed, its resilient jawsmoveoutwar'dly' over: the adjacent end of the article to gri-p'thearticle and: thus. hold? it in axial alignment with. the dri-lvingshaitof the chuck.

The turret is'then indexed. through the operation of themechanism shownin Fig. 13,. moving the loaded chuck with its. articl from the feedingposition to the operating position. The cutting Wheel. 2.0: with itsassociated mechanism shown in-Figs. 1 8; and 19 is in the starting.posiition prior toa-thetimethe article is. moved. intoen gagementltherewith. When the: turret has' been indexed tomove: the: loaded chuckto the operat'- ing position, the article is not. moved directlyintoengagement with thegrinding wheel asadditional mechanism must beoperated to accomplish. thispurpose, This mechanism is shown. in Figs. 6and" 1-1 under the control of cam I35 to move-the annular'element'. Hillto align its notch i331 with the notch [21 in the; main elementllfiipermitting the arm 18 of the chuck unit to be moved outwardly orcounter-clockwise (Fig. 11) by the pull ofit'sspring, |-I;8-,f0rcing'the article against the cutting wheel by the force embodied in.the. spring. At this; time the cam:- 35' functions to allow the spring34 (Fig. 18) to move the: carriagesupporting the unit 2]. sothatthecuttingwheel may move-longi-- tudinallyof the. axisoi the-article tocut a helical groove inthe carbon coating on the article as illustratedin. Fig; 5: during rotation of the" chuck at the operating, position.Actually the cut-ex tends through the; carboncoating: and intotheceramicmaterial.

The rotation; of the chuck at the operating position is accomplished bythe gear 8% of" that particular' chuckpunit. moving: into andinterengaging the pinion 263: (Figs. 6 and of the driving mechanismoriginating withlthemotor'llfi The selected train of gears in thismechanism, shown particularly in Figs. 15 tel? inclusive; will beoperating continuously. and although. the gear '83- of the chuck unit15, moved into the operating position, may not. mesh: immediately withthe pinionv 203-, the flexible supporting: mechanism forthepinionszfit'and 283 will permit movement thereof until the. teeth of the gear86 and; the pinion- 2ll3 intermesh. This possible failur of thei'nterengagement of the gear 86 and pinion 211.3. will be: onlyinstaneous. and occur prior tov the movement. of the. chuck unitoutwardly into. the cutting: position through: the. operation of thecam: [35. The: chuck: unit in the operating position. will,.. throughthe mechanism. justv described;-

berotatedi. at a given speed whereby axheltc'et groove will be.- formedin the. article through-the cooperation. of the mechanismv includingthe. cam. 35 to traverse the cutting unit. To. change the contour-of thehelical groove,v the driving mechanism may be varied. by shifting theconnectionfrom gear I='8. l to gear in Fig. 15

After the: articlehas. been formed, that is after the. helical groove;has been cut therein, the turret supporting thev chucks is indexed and;at. the proper'time: during this indexing. or prior to that. time, thecutting unit: 21 is' returned to its initial or starting position. Priorto this occurrencey however, at the termination of the forming: or'cutting operation, the camv ['35 (Fig. 11.)1.i.:unc1- tions tofipermitthe: spring; Midi to rock the; element: I330: to close the. notch I21and thereby move. the adjacentchuck unit outofcuttingspositiomtermihating the cutting'operation regardless of thetraversing means for the cutting unitorith y no tatingimeans for thechuckim-it- When thachucl'c supporting: turret is indexed. to: the.next; position... the completed articleis ejected into a.suitablere'--ceptacle 2211' through the operation of themech anisms shown in Figs. 10and 12', making the chuck ready to receivev another article. at. theloadingxposition. There are in effect three posit-- tions. for the chuckunits, the feeding position: where: the articles are fed singly intothechucks; while: they are openedv through the operation of. the cams 5.This same mechanismxfunctionsz at the: third position which may betermed the: ejecting position whileit remains inefiectiveina theintermittent or operating position.

It is to be understood that the: above described: arrangements aresimply illustrative'of theaappli;-- cation of the principles of the.invention. Numer ous other arrangements maybe readily devised; by. thoseskilled in the. art which Willrembody' the: principles oft thevinvention and fall, within. the? spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An: article cuttingv apparatus comprising a turret. mounted forintermittent. movement about. its axis, like rotatable chucks pivoted.arms for supporting the chucks; mounted at spaced posi'-- tions aboutthe turret, means to normally urge the. arms with the chucks: outwardlyunder given. forces, acutter' rotatable about its axis: and: move able;axially between given limits, and-.means; to: normallyhold the: chuckarms. against? outward; movement operable torelease the-chuckswhenin'.an operating positionadjacentthe cuttenwherebyi the. article will bemoved into the cutter;v

2; An: article cutting apparatus. comprising: a turret mounted forintermittent movement. about: its axis, like rotatable chucks; pivoted.arms-.xfon' supportingthe chucks mounted at spacedlposi'e tions aboutthe turret, means to normally." urge: the: arms withthe chucks outwardlyunderflgiven: forces, acutter rotatable about'its axis; and mow-- ableaxially between given limits; and. means .toa

normally hold: the: chuck arms against. outward;v movement operable fora given.- length'. of" time during axial movement of the cutter: torelease the chucks singly when in an operating position adjacentthecutterwhereby. a spiral groove ofia givenlength. Will be cut into thearticle.

3; article cutting. apparatus comprising: a turret mounted .forintermittent movement about its. axis, like. rotatable chucks" forreceiving artiiclesr-t'o be cut,. pivoted arms for supportingtlie chucksmounted at spaced positions about-the turret. means. to normallyurge thearms: with the chucks outwardly' under given-forcesga cutter rotatableabout its axis and movable axially between given limits, and an elementhaving a substantially circular aperture therein and an offset portionadjacent an operating position adapted to hold the chuck arms againstoutward movement until they reach the offset portion whereby the articlewill be moved into the cutter.

4. An article cutting apparatus comprising a turret mounted forintermittent movement about its 'axis, like rotatable chucks forreceiving articles to be cut, pivoted arms for supporting the chucksmounted at spaced positions about the turret, means to normally urge thearms with the chucks outwardly under given forces, a cutter rotatableabout its axis and movable axially between given limits, a substantiallyannular track having an offset portion adjacent an operating position,means carried by the chuck arms to ride on the track to hold the chuckarms against outward movement until they reach the offset portionwhereby the article will be moved into the cutter.

5. An article cutting apparatus comprising a turret mounted forintermittent movement about its axis, like rotatable chucks forreceiving articles to be cut, pivoted arms for supporting the chucksmounted at spaced positions about the turret, means to normally urge thearms with the chucks outwardly under given forces, a cutter rotatableabout its axis and movable axially between given limits, a substantiallyannular track having an offset portion adjacent an operation position,means carried by the chuck arms to ride on the track to hold the chuckarms against outward movement until they reach the offset portionwhereby the article will be moved into the cutter, and means operable tomove the track to vary the time the chuck arms will be in the oifsetportion to vary the length of cut in the articles. CLIFFORD W.HENDERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 766,403 Vincke Aug. 2, 1904 1,635,184 Jones July 12, 19271,640,993 Hanson Aug. 30, 1927 1,918,626 Wilt July 18, 1933 1,997,978Raule Apr. 16, 1935 2,005,375 Jones et a1. June 18, 1935 2,050,422Dalkowitz Aug. 11, 1936 2,059,710 Rupple Nov. 3, 1936 2,224,265 Johnsonet a1 Dec. 10, 1940 2,237,583 Birkigt Apr. 8, 1941 2,390,533 Hill Dec.11, 1945 2,405,485 Barkstrom et a1. Aug. 6, 1946 2,475,091 Hackman July5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 388,490 Germany Jan. 19,1924

